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A Discovery of Witches (All Souls, #1)

Deborah Harkness

Start date: January 16, 2012

Finish date: February 16, 2012

Discussion: ♦Buddy Reads♦

Discussion leader: Shellbelle

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Showing 2 of 50 topics — 2,359 comments total

♦Buddy Reads♦

* Buddy Read Sign Ups
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last updated Mar 30, 2025 03:36AM

* Buddy Reads - Discussion/Find A Buddy
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What Members Thought

Aug 31, 2020 Book Concierge rated it really liked it

Shelves: new-york, audio, france, witches, concierge, strong-women, library, vampires, mystery, series

Audiobook narrated by Jennifer Ikeda

This is a combination of fantasy, romance, suspense, mystery, and historical fiction. Diana Bishop is a professor of alchemical history, studying at Oxford. When she requests a particular document, she senses that it is bound in magic, but she has renounced her family legacy and wants nothing to do with spells. She returns the document to the stacks, unaware that it has been lost for centuries and her calling it up has awakened a keen interest among the creat ...more

14 likes · Like · see review

May 02, 2012 Trisha rated it it was ok

it was okay. not a compelling story that held my interest or my attention. Although I thought the story was interesting, it felt too much like "and then I did this. and then he did this and then I did this". I just got bored after about 200 pages and literally fell asleep from then on. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 20, 2011 Delitealex rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: vampire, witches, favorites, fantasy, own

This book was nothing like I expected. The writing was so descriptive. I loved the parts about Diana's alchemical research and Matthew's experiments. Also the descriptions of each creature were interesting. I loved the characters and can't wait to learn more about them. The mystery of the manuscript and the interactions between the creatures really kept me interested and I loved the chemistry between Diana and Matthew. I'm definitely continuing on to the next book. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2013 Morgan rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, witches-and-wizards

Probably 4 or 4.5

I'm glad that I have the other two in the trilogy in my plans for the Fall Seasonal Reading Challenge.

Definitely an interesting world populated by interesting characters.

A reasonably quick read for as long as it was (considering the time I actually spent reading it and not reading other things). ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 25, 2011 Mary (Biblophile) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: in-my-collection, paranormal, audiobooks

Wow! This book could use some serious editing. It took me weeks of on and off listening to finally finish it. I thought it would never end! (Apparently it hasn't as there must be a sequel.)

I didn't hate the book, it just didn't grab my interest, though the historical stuff was interesting. The Twilight romance was old before it started. Way too much padding to cover the lack of a real storyline. Perhaps the next book will improve. ...more

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Nov 28, 2020 Sue rated it it was amazing

I loved this! I'm ready for books 2. ...more

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Sep 16, 2011 tpixie rated it it was amazing

Fun Read. Can't wait for the next one!
Vampires, Witches, and Demaons for grown-ups. ...more

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Dec 10, 2021 Kate rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mini-books

2 likes · Like

Mar 02, 2019 Minttu rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, a-z-challenge-titles, 1st-in-series, historical, fantasy-scifi, magic-witches, my-audiobooks, old-houses, series-to-finish, family